Man held in Quincy triple homicide faces additional charges

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — A Waynesboro man accused of fatally shooting three people July 27 now faces additional criminal charges.

With authorization from Franklin County (Pa.) District Attorney Matt Fogal, the Pennsylvania State Police on Wednesday amended the criminal complaint for 35-year-old Kevin M. Cleeves.

He is now charged with kidnapping a minor, interference with custody of children, unlawful restraint of a minor, endangering the welfare of children and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. He still is charged with three counts of criminal homicide, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

The firearms counts are tied to a misdemeanor conviction in Arizona, court records show.

Cleeves is accused of killing his wife, her boyfriend and the boyfriend’s mother before fleeing the state with his 4-year-old daughter. The girl, Leia, was safe when Cleeves was apprehended in Ohio about seven hours after the shootings.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14.

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Prosecutors were scheduled to argue Thursday that Cleeves be prohibited from having any contact with the victims’ families while incarcerated. That “no-contact” request specifically includes Leia, authorities said.

However, Fogal said in an email that the hearing was canceled because Cleeves is not challenging the request. He said a judge will sign an order granting the motion.

Cleeves, who is represented by a public defender, is being held without bail in the Franklin County Jail.

Pennsylvania State Police allege Cleeves shot his wife, Brandi N. (Killingsworth) Cleeves, in the driveway of her boyfriend’s Quincy, Pa., home. They allege he also shot the boyfriend, Vincent L. Santucci Jr., and his mother, Rosemary Holma.

Online court records from Scottsdale, Ariz., indicate Cleeves was charged with domestic violence in August 2004 and pleaded guilty.

In an amended affidavit of probable cause, Pennsylvania State Police said Cleeves did not finish requirements in an Arizona diversion program and a warrant was subsequently issued. Because of that, state police said Cleeves was not eligible to possess or use a firearm.

Police said they retrieved a Glock 9 mm handgun from Cleeves’ vehicle.

Cleeves told a trooper that his vehicle rear-ended another vehicle as he tried to drive to Michigan, the affidavit states.

Cleeves also said he took Klonopin, a seizure and panic attack medication, that night because his wife stressed him out, the affidavit states.

Police said the Cleeveses had a custody order saying Brandi Cleeves was to have the child from 10 a.m. Wednesdays to noon Saturdays.